By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support local journalism.
Yankees, Braves pull off upsets in senior league tournament
Mica-Woodleeweb
Mica Woodlee looks in a throw at first base during the Custom Collision Yankees game Monday night. The Yankees pulled off an upset in the first round of tournament action in senior league, defeating the Gary Steele Karate Phillies 11-2. - photo by Jeff Simmons

They call it the second season, when the regular season records are erased and teams get the win-or-go-home mentality.
Two higher seeds in the boys 11-12-year-old senior league tournament felt the sting of being upset in the opening round, as the No. 3 seed Dream Builder A’s fell to the La Cazona Braves 11-7 and the Custom Collision Yankees eliminated the No. 4 seed Gary Steele Karate Phillies with a 11-2 whipping.
The only higher seed to advance on the first night of the single-elimination tournament was the No. 2 seed Pioneer Pediatric Cardinals, who defeated the Turner Auto Salvage Cubs 11-4.
With teams in the survive-and-advance mode on Monday night, 11 was apparently the run total needed to win. The Yankees opened the night by storming out to a seven-run lead before coasting to a 11-2 victory.
The Yankees racked up 10 hits and seven runs over the first three innings, led by Noah Campbell. Campbell had hits in all three innings, as he scored the first run of the game and drove in three runs. Campbell would go on to finish a perfect 4-for-4 with four RBIs.
Trey Cantrell earned the victory by pitching the first three innings and allowing no runs while striking out four. Cantrell also finished the game with three hits and three RBIs.
Logan Martin and Ben Sweeton also had three hits for the Yankees, who advanced to a showdown with the No. 1 seed Hall’s Backhoe Dodgers. Chandler Rockwell, Mica Woodlee and Noah Bost had one hit each.
Jesse Jones, Tyler Steele, Eli Eldridge, Mitchell Woodlee and Blane Wilson each had hits for the Phillies, who had entered the tournament on a roll. Steele took the loss on the mound, pitching three innings before being relieved by Chance Hobbs.
In the second game, the Braves won the rubber match against the A’s to remain alive in the tournament. The two teams had split the regular-season series, but a five-run fourth inning helped propel the Braves to a 11-7 win in the first round.
After taking a 5-0 lead, only to see the A’s trim it to one with four runs in the third, the Braves put the game away in the fourth inning.
Austin Higgins led off the inning with a walk, which was followed by RBI doubles from Noah Fann and Tyler Pomales. Pomales would score on a single by Robby Selig, giving the team a 8-4 cushion. The lead would swell to six after Selig and Jacob Linder each stole three bases apiece to score.
After the Braves moved the lead to 11-4 in the top of the fifth, the A’s made one last run. Singles by Trayton Rackley, Keaton Welch, Ethan Mikkola and Colton Smith led to three runs, but the A’s fell four runs short of moving the game into extra innings.
Noah Fann earned the victory for the A’s, pitching all five innings. Fann and Pomales led the Braves with two hits each. Selig, Linder and Devin Terry had one hit apiece.
Tyler Hollingsworth, Welch, Mikkola, and Blake Driver had two hits apiece for the A’s. Rackley and Smith chipped in one hit each. Mikkola took the loss, pitching three innings before giving way to Welch and Hollingsworth in the final three innings.
Six straight hits, which led to six runs in the fifth inning, powered the Cardinals to a 11-4 victory over the Cubs in the night cap Monday night.
The Cardinals entered the bottom of the fifth with a slim 5-4 advantage, but Tyler Prater, J.D. Keele, Ridge Brewer, Krojn Colbert, Anthony Palmer and Thomas Judkins put up six straight hits to give the Cardinals a seven-run cushion. By the time Zach Murray stepped to the plate with one out, time expired and the Cardinals advanced to the semifinals.
Colbert had two hits to lead the Cardinals, including a two-run home run in the first inning. Philip Brock added two hits in the win. Keele picked up the victory, pitching four innings before being relieved by Prater.
Austin Miller, Gavin Harper, Caleb Johnson, Dylan Madison, Taven Newport and Logan Greer each had hits in the loss for the Cubs.

WCHS baseball, softball compete in weekend tournaments
sports.png

One day after a close home win over Cumberland County Thursday night, the Warren County baseball team was back on the road for a weekend tournament slate. Taking part in the Viking Classic, the Pioneers went 2-2 across Friday and Saturday’s contests.

Kicking things off against Huntland at Tullahoma High School Friday evening, Warren County notched its third straight victory with a 4-3 decision over the Hornets.

Sam Robinson had three of the team’s eight hits. Ryder Gilispie followed with two. Tyler Adams, Jerren Harris and Keaton Rowe each added one hit.

Gilispie and Harris were both credited with one RBI each.

Adams, Robinson, Gilispie and Adrian Harris each scored one run.

On the mound, Miguel Garcia pitched four innings, finishing with four strikeouts, two hits, three runs and four walks. Keagan Thompson followed for two innings, striking out two.

In the nightcap, the Pioneers were held scoreless in an 8-0 shutout against the host Wildcats. Robinson had Warren County’s lone hit of the game.

Hayven Jones pitched 1.1 innings, recording one strikeout, four hits, seven runs and two walks. Jerren Harris came on for 2.2 innings, finishing with two hits, one run and four walks.

Back in action for day two of the tournament at Cascade High School, the Pioneers bounced back with a 9-8 win over the host Champions Saturday morning.

The team finished with nine hits, led by Adams and Robinson with two each. Gilispie, Jerren Harris, Adrian Harris, Woogs Bryan and Corban Felton all added one.

Bryan led the team in RBI with four of its eight. Gilispie, Felton, Jerren Harris and Brady Norris each brought in one.

Jaytton Baker went 3.1 innings on the bump, striking out five and coming off with eight hits and five runs. Lealon Arnold followed for 1.2 innings, striking out one and adding two hits and three runs. Gilispie pitched for one inning and recorded two strikeouts and one hit.

Closing out the weekend against Alabama’s Heritage Christian, Warren County came out on the losing end of a 14-6 contest. At the plate, Jerren Harris led the way with two of the team’s eight hits. Adams, Gilispie, Bryan, Felton, Adrian Harris and Evan Snapp all followed with one each.

The Pioneers posted four RBI, with two each for Adams and Snapp.

Snapp had two of the team’s six runs, with one each for Adams, Gilispie, Felton and Jones.

Braden Whinnery pitched 2.2 innings, striking out four and surrendering seven hits, five runs and one walk. Rowe followed for 0.2 innings, adding four hits and five runs. Up next was Keagan Thompson, who went one inning and came off with five hits and four runs. Daylen Holguin wrapped up the day, striking out one and allowing one hit over 0.2 innings.

WCHS softball goes 1-3 through weekend

The Lady Pioneers got their Southern Warrior Classic schedule started with a game against Summertown Friday evening, a matchup in which they fell 10-1.

Warren County finished with six hits, with two each for Ky Damon, Lola Wells and Kaydence Wiser.

Wiser had a home run in the top of the fourth inning for the team’s lone run.

In the circle, Ceilee Gudat pitched 3.1 innings and finished with one strikeout, nine hits, 10 runs and two walks. Kyaira Sharpe followed for the game’s remainder, closing out the last 0.2 innings.

The Lady Pioneers were again bested in their second Friday night game, falling 10-2 to Moline (Ill.).

Wells led the Warren County hitting effort with two of the team’s six. Damon, Callie Roberts, Cortlyn Porter and Ali Young each added one.

Wells and Lily Rains had one run each.

Ruby Denning had one strikeout and gave up eight hits, 10 runs and three walks across all four innings.

The Lady Pioneers had better luck in their Saturday morning opener, flying ahead with an 11-run fifth inning to take down Illinois’s Oswego East 15-9.

Warren County racked up 12 hits over the course of the game, with two each for Rains, Wells, Sharpe, Porter and Addison Smith. This included home runs for both Wells and Smith. Damon and Young both added one hit each.

Smith led the Lady Pioneers in RBI with four of their 15, followed by Sharpe with three. Rains and Wells both had two RBI. Damon, Wiser, Porter and Young all tacked on one.

Sharpe pitched the first four innings and came out with 13 hits, nine runs and two walks. Denning added one hit across one inning.

Warren County was unable to duplicate this in their final game of the weekend later that afternoon, falling 3-2 to Stewarts Creek.

The team notched six hits, with two each for Rains and Porter. Damon and Wiser both added one hit.

Rains had the Lady Pioneers’ lone RBI.

On the rubber, Gudat pitched all five innings, striking out three and finishing the day with five hits, three runs and one walk.